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Photographer of atomic bomb destruction dies at 96
ap on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 12/18/05 | AP

Posted on 12/18/2005 9:12:21 AM PST by NormsRevenge

LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. (AP) - Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel A. McGovern, a combat photographer who filmed the aftermath of the atomic bomb detonations in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, has died. He was 96.

McGovern died of cancer Wednesday at his home in Laguna Woods.

Weeks after the bombs were dropped in August 1945, McGovern began taking photographs that have since appeared in history books, newspapers, television shows and movies. Earlier during the war, McGovern photographed President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the White House.

In 1943, McGovern flew missions as a cameraman while stationed in Chelveston, England. He survived two crashes and shot footage used in William Wyler's 1944 wartime documentary, "The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress."

McGovern talked about his war experiences with the Los Angeles Times when Steven Spielberg's World War II film, "Saving Private Ryan," was released in 1998.

"Combat men don't like to talk about what they did," he said. "Airplanes crashing, headless bodies with helmets still on. Limbs here, limbs there. You say, 'There but for the grace of God,' but you don't talk about it. You relive it in your sleep. You go through recollections of pulling bodies out of airplanes - an experience you never forget."

He said he spoke about what he witnessed because of encouragement from his children and grandchildren.

McGovern and several colleagues founded the International Combat Cameramen Association to recognize photographers who risked their lives shooting combat footage.

After World War II, McGovern wrote, directed and produced classified films about nuclear weapons at Lookout Mountain, a secret Cold War-era government film lab and studio in the Hollywood Hills.

He is survived by his sister, four children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Japan; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: atomicbomb; danielmcgovern; destruction; dies; hiroshima; memphisbelle; nagasaki; obituary; photographer; photography; veteran; wwii
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
That's right, Mandrake.

Mandrake: "Uh, Jack, Jack, listen, tell me, tell me, Jack. When did you first... become... well, develop this theory?"

General Jack D. Ripper: "Well, I, uh... I... I... first became aware of it, Mandrake, during the physical act of love."

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: "Hmm."

61 posted on 12/18/2005 12:20:20 PM PST by elbucko
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To: Jigsaw John
You consider statement below an erroneous opinion?

"Besides, it's no secret that atomic bombs put out lots of contamination in the form of radiation".

Yes I do consider the above to be wrong. It's incorrect and misleading. You are trying to imply that McGovern was subject to a considerable amount of radiation from contaminated material near ground zero. The problem with your scenario is that the city of Hiroshima was not at 5,000+ ft. and was not in the core of the nuclear air bust to create a great deal of radioactive contaminated debris. You are guilty of nuclear "gossip". You don't know what you are talking about.

62 posted on 12/18/2005 12:31:28 PM PST by elbucko
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To: elbucko
It's incorrect and misleading. You are trying to imply that McGovern was subject to a considerable amount of radiation from contaminated material near ground zero.

Incorrect and misleading? Implying considerable amount of radiation?

This?:

"Besides, it's no secret that atomic bombs put out lots of contamination in the form of radiation. The fact is, no one will probably ever know if being in that area after the fact, was the cause of his death, many years later".

You have a very wild imagination.

63 posted on 12/18/2005 12:41:28 PM PST by Jigsaw John
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To: Jigsaw John
You have a very wild imagination.

I must have, I always thought that:

"..atomic bombs put out lots of contamination in the form of radiation."

Was the equivalent of: "Implying considerable amount of radiation?"

Are you dyslexic, ignorant of the subject, or just stubborn when your wrong?

64 posted on 12/18/2005 12:50:57 PM PST by elbucko
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To: elbucko

Have a good day buck.


65 posted on 12/18/2005 1:08:47 PM PST by Jigsaw John
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To: Jigsaw John
Have a good day buck.

You too, John.

66 posted on 12/18/2005 3:52:58 PM PST by elbucko
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To: logic
Not so!! There are two others God called out early, Rumor is since the bible says it's appointed unto each man a time to die, that they will be the prophets at the wailing wall during the tribulation whom the anti-christ will strike down and they will lay in the open for three days then rise again!!!

ok... I guess.

67 posted on 12/18/2005 5:25:09 PM PST by Dick Vomer (liberals suck......... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.)
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